Mining-machine



N. D. LEVENv MNiNG MACHINE. APPucATloN FILED sEPLza, 1916. RENEWED 1AN.28,1921.

N. D. LEVIN.

v MINING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED sEP'mII, I9I6K IIEIIEv/ED IAN. 28,192I.

Famed Nov. 1, 1921.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Illlll AIM .ATOHNEY WITNESSES, m17/ f- /W N. n'. LEVIN. MINING IVIACHIIIE. APPLICATION FILD SEPT. 28, I9I6.

RENEWED JAN. 28,1921.

' IE'JIM N. D. LEvm MINING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPTJS, 1916. RENEWED JAN. 28,

' 1921. g?, Patented Nov,

5 SHI-IEEy S-SHEE 5.

A TTOR/VEV epee'loii fled September 2S ii, Serial No. 122,795. Renewed Iaiiiiarv 28 7 v TQa/,Zfwlwr/,iz'zf fnmje/ mno/em: i'iiek lo iziiispoft tl it liiiowii hei; iiLs .il Levier, fi cilimine. zeii nf elle Uni'ecl Staes, residing ai. Coiiiiii lhese and other @bien s will :.3

bus, iii he eoiiiii'sy oi? Franklin and. lie State following Speeiiieeiioh, i'eiiei'eiic of hio, have invented Cei'tziiii iieiv miel iise- 'to the accompanying diiziwiii ful mpi'ovemeii's iii Mii1iiig-lviziehiiies of Figure l is iii elevation of which the following is :i specification, i'e'ei'- .side el' lie )referred einheelinieii iii* .iii ence being had therein '30 *.ie iieeoii'ipaiiyiiig venllioii, iiioiiiilefl u iioi. its iiiiiel foi drawing' n y pei-miti@ slew" ehe mii' iaeks l@ The present inveiiioii ielaesi to eei'liiii F i. is

new and iise'fiil -iiiipievemeiiis iii iiiiiiiiig Cliiiie illiis y iii Fig. i. machines, and especially ie that class of iFig. is e fiiigiiientziiv enlarged plan iiiiiv hg machines wheiiii ezieli .iiiiichiiie is view with, some n l 1 L 1 i l iii'is .hizokeri :ivay fue shew piovidefi with an eloiigziieii eiitnii mecha other parte el che driving meenanis- J* l iiisiii adapted lo be hiust liiiiigiiiicliiiiilly the devices Dy which iiifco the coal, :incl to then he moved lateizillv relative to "he Coal fece.

iieioss the working face te form nA lierf io is a section along the line iw-fl (if facilitate the breaking out 0f the coal. Fig. 3. I

in niiiiiy regions iheie occur veins of coal Fig. 5

s. is si section alone the l .e --5 l 2@ which.I while veilv thiii ziiid difficult of i'eeo.7` F 2 Slightly clis'boied L:is to L ery. may he, profitably iiiiiierl Giving o the die section. high cost of other fuel with which they come F 6 is into eompetiioii. lllheie he chui'ieilei of Fi@ 3 the overlying sl zia will admit of its pm@ F 7 Secien along 'l-he liie 7--7 oi 255 iffej ehe longwall .svseiii is liest siii'ecl le, Fig? i and is eomiiieiili` employed in, the recovery Fifi'. 8 i e?? Coal from very l'hiii veins? zinfl mining Fig'. 2. .iachines fidfipeil to eiiiactress vhe Werking fziees nl' the long" vvzill S'Xistem hfve heeii "es 3G veloped Vr.vliei'eiii zhe overall h ghe ei 'ihe on ai iiiiiihiie has been i'eiliieerl to the lowest prin;- l? lienl limit. 'lhei'e iii-e. however. leriiei'ies si le section along ihy line @We el s see'ioii aleiipj liiie SMS eiilziifveei se l() elevation ci? lie lef? the machine. iimlei'lziiii by siieh veins iiii' mail vvhei'e lhs il is zi Tem: elevation ijhe ma le. iiziliue of the roof is not siiilihle le lung Fig. l? is i iag'iiiei'ihiiv iilziii View slime f5 Weill iiiiiiirigz ziiifl recourse must he heil to ing" the iiieti'ioiil of loading" the maehine iipii 9C 'che ieoii'i L (l pillen' s vsteiri. its truck for tiaiiispei' about the ifzichs of lt is he espec'al object of this invention to provide :i mining iiizifghiiie of suitable Fig. 13 is a detail of he i'emovablegiiide strength zuid ziiimle pmvei.. having vertiefil Shezive.

40 dimensions suiehle te useiiii extremely low Figs. le? to 18 iii 4 elusive aie diagrams 95 coal and zulzipied te he olle able under the showing the methods of using 1'she machine. Conditions obtaining with the relatively Like numerals i" i'ei to similar parte in the Short Werking faces of the room und pillzii` several figures. A

system oi mining, or iii the limited space As shown iii the drawings his machine 45 available hei-Ween the roof supporting props compi'ises :i iiiiiiii frame composed @if thi'ee i9@ :md the Working face in the long vfnll sv steel cnsiiiigs inclieaed by the iiiimeiels l 2 teni. nml '.iiese castings are seeiiielv aschea il. fiiithei object is to provide improved logehe'f hy he holte '-l :md ae shziiiefl 3^ leeiliiig` iiieehaiiisnL whereby the iim :liiiie te iioiiii he hioflcl hase 5 ii'poii Wl-i iiii'v he moved ai a ielziivelv slow speed 'for chine i'ess and which is Miei (-iiti'iiig the eezil miel at e. relatively high eveihe floor of lie mine. The speed foi' handling :ibeiit the room. l siippeis :iiiil iiueleses ehe f i A fiiilhei' object is to provide improvecl iiism and the par s associated l: eiev/il mech-mism Vfor eoiii eetiiig the iiiotoif of lhe The middle section shaped m fom! iiiiiiiiig iiiziehine Willi lie axles @if a Suitable motor frame whiel:

i iii i) armature 6, ield poles7 and the accessory parts of the motor, and contains a chamber for the protection and support of the starting box 8 by which the motor is controlled. The o erating shaft 8a of the starting box 8 exten s longitudinally of the machine, and at either end is provided with hand wheels 8" convenient to the hand o't' the operator, by which the starting box may be manipulated. The forward casting 3 carries the cutting mechanism and the gearing by which it is actuated from the motor.

The cutting mechanism is ot the Well 'known side cutting type consisting of an elongated 'frame 9 having guideways along its edges in which travels the cutter chain 10. To the links of the chain 10 are attached the renewable bitsll by which the coal is cut. This elongated frame 9 is secured by any suitable means, as by the bolts l2 to a support casting 13 having a circular expansion 14 at the center of which is a journal bearing which engages the hub 15 of the frame casting 3. Secured to the upper side of the circular expansion 14 is a ring 16 in engagement with vthe fiange 17 of a bearing ring 13 attached to the casting 3 forming a turntable upon which the cutter `arm 9 is supported and guided for rotation in a hori* zontal plane about thev axis of the hub 15. Formed in the casting 3 is an aperture 19 through which may be extended a coupling pin 20 to enga e a suitable aperture in the .ring 18 to lock t 1e cutter arm 9 in the desired position during the operation of the machine.

By this method of mounting the cutter arm, the 'huachine is adapted to use in either the long wall or the short wall. systems of mininggand the cutter arm may easily be rtated to either side to facilitate the passage of the machine around the short curves in the narrow passages of 'the mine. Mounted 'for rotation in the journal bearings 21 formed in the hub 15 is a vertical shaft 22 and to the flower end of this shaft is fixed the sprocket iwheel 23 which engages the cutter chain 1() Ito drive it. Fixed to the upper end ot this shaft 22 is aA worm wheel 24 having a hub 25 the outer surface of which is finished 'to form a'journal rotatable in the bearing 26" formed in the hub 27 of the casting 28. This casting 28 is secured by suitable bolts t0 the 'frame casting 3 and forms the cover part ot' the gear case by which the Worm wheel and its associated parts are protected. The lower part of the. gear case is formed by the web 23 of the frame casting 3 and these parts are so shaped and proportioned that they may hold a supply. of oil to such depth that the rim 01".' the Worm and Worm Wheel will dip tl'ierein to insure proper lubrication.

The worm Wheel 24 is the cutter driver and is engaged by a Worm 30 which 1s termed integral withthe shaft 3.1 which extends longitudinally of the machine and is supported and having on its outer end clutch teeth 36 which are adapted to engage With the teeth of a clutch member 37 splined on the shaft 31. The clutch member has an annularl flange 38 which engages with the shifting yoke 39. 'The yoke 39 is fixed to a vertical shaft 40 to the upper end of which is attached a crank arm 41. To the crank arm 4l is connected a shifting rod 42 which eX- tends longitudinally of the machine to a ioint convenient to the hand oi the operator.

y the manipulation of this rod 42 the clutch member 3T may be moved longitudinally on the shaft 31 to engage or disengage the teeth 36 ot' the gear 33 as it may be desired to drive the cutter chain 10 or tov allow it to remain idle.V An annular groove 43 is formed on the end et the circular expansion 14 to engage the feed rope during the sumping cut when the machine is used in the longwall system of mining as will be fully set forth hereinafter. A transverse bar 44, the ends 45 of which arev bent rearwardly and attached to the frame casting 3, is adapted to engage the vtace of the coal when the machine is used in the room and pillar system of mining, to protect the operative parts of the machine lfrom contact with the coal.

The feeding mechanism by which the machine is moved relative to the coal comprises a rope adapted to be attached at one end to an abutment outside the machine and at the other end to a winding drum 47 mounted. within thev rear section 1 of the machine frame in such manner that by the rotation of the drum the rope will be wound upto drag the machine over the ioor ot' the mine.

The drum 47 is adapted to be rotated at al relatively high speed to move the machine into position to begin its cutting, or to lead it upon the truck after the completion ot a cut.

Attached to the rear end of the armature shait G of the motor is a Worin 48 which engages a worm wheel 49 fixed to the hub of a bevel gear 50, The bevel gear -50 is keyed to a vertical shaft 51 journaled in the bearings 52 and 53 of the gear case castings 54 and 55 which are suitably secured to the frame casting 1. ln orderthat the gears 48;-.43. 5.0 and 93 may Aat all times be immereeiiin oil, the gear case is provided 'tvith the packing glands 54a and 54b and with the plug cap 54c to prevent the escape ci' oil from the .interior of the gear Formed integral with the shaft 51 at its upper end is a crank 56 having a crank pin 5i' to which is connected the connecting rod 53. This connecting rod 58 is formed in two parte which are screw threaded together to admit adjustment of the length of the rod, and is provided with a loclc nut 59 to prevent :incidental change ot' such adjustinent. At its end remote from the crank 56 the connecting rod 5S is connected by the Wrist pin 60 'to two rocker arms 6l which are rotatable about a sleeve 62 gonrnaled upon the vertical shaft 63. This shaft 3 0 63 is secured at its lower end to the frame casting l and at its upper end to the yoke casting G4 which is bolted to the traine of the machine. VKeyed to the sleeve. be-

- tiveen the rocker arins Gl, is a ratchet Wheel YYI5 adapted to be engaged by the pawl titi,

carried by the rocker arm 6l by which the ratchet Wheel anu with it the sleeve 62, may

e rotated. A pawl 6T carried by the yoke casting (il also engages the ratchet Wheel to prevent its retrogade rotation. Formed on the lower end of the sleeve 62 are gear teeth 68 which constitute a pinion in engagement With-the gear Wheel 69 to cause it to rotate about the vertical shaft 70. The ends of the shaft 7U are secured in apertures of the trame and yoke castings to hold it firmly in place. The gear wheel 69 is provided with an elongated hub 7l Within Which are formed bearings T2 rotatable upon the vertical shaft To and upon the outer surface ot' this hub Tl the drum 4T isnionnted 'for free rotationln the web '73 iol the gear is formed e truncated cone 4H the upper surface ot which is adapted to a complementary surface fr ined in theinside ot the drum #il const-ituting;` a frictibn clutch by it'hich the drinn may be, .rotatively connected to the yrear Attached toit/he iianges T5 ot the drinn is a` 4G ring '[6 i'hich bears upon an annular flange TT Formed on a nut 78 screw threaded to the upper part of the hub il'. This hub fxhcn in the upper position ot its adjustment sopports the Weight ot the drum and holds itout of eilgfagenient with the clutch cone and when in its lower position allows the cone surfaces to engage. and by pressing upon the upper end ot the druin casting, holds them in forcible Contact to drive the drum. Formed on the nut 'TS are racial arms T9 by which it may be rotated relative 'to the hub 'Tl to change the vertical relation of the 'clutch members. Below the bottoni liange SO ot the drum 47 is a cylindrical extension Sl which protrudes through a circular aperture in the cover plate which is attached to the traine of the machine to protect the rearing ot the feeding mechanism. ttached to the cover plate 82 by suitable machine scri is a packing ring' which contants imh the cylindrical extension Si to maintain u dust prooi joint irrespective of the vertical position of the drum 17.

llotatable about the sleevev 62, at either a 1e oif the ratchet Wheel 65 are arms 84 to geen Within the range ot' 86 remote from the sleeve "which are attached an arcuate shield partially encircling the ratchet Wheel, and hav incr an aperture through which the perd 66 extends to engage the teeth of the ratchet Wheel. By the rotation ot these arms 84 the Shield G6 to prevent its engagement of the ratchet Wheel through a greater or less part oi its rotation. A rod S6 extending longitudinally ot the n 'hine, is connected to the arms Se by tl iinlr 8T and the longitudinal Inovenient ot' this rod rotates the arme to var)v the position of the shield 85. The ends of the rod 86 are convenient to the hand et the operatorat either end of the machine and eilord convenient means toi-.regulating the rate oit Winding the jfeed rope and consequently the rete o.. ieeding the machine into the coal. l

iy the arrangement of parts just above described power from the motor may be connected to the Winding drum fl? to Wind the feed rope 45 to feed the cutting inechanisin into the coal, and the rate ot' such feeding may be controlled 'by the operator A practical needs. It is found, however, that a rate of winding which is suitable' for teedingjr the cutting mechanisin into the coal is entirely too slow 'for handling' machine about the rooni. preparatory to beginning a cut, or to load it onto its trut-lr for transport another working place. l have therefore provided auxiliary/'greeting by which the drum niay be ro tateti at a .much higher rate 'when handlincV the machine about. the i'ooni.

lillonntedV upon the lio"zonte.l which is iournalcd in su i r case casting; oe.-

the bevel freer o0. To t .t tl `Ihaft, 90 is cored a r ren s the spur ,gear ye to the Shaft' LG. The gear Q5 is formed iv'fli a sleeve Si' on the outer Surface ot' which is formed a journal rotatable in the ings ot the fear case 99.

formed on the inner ond ot the sleeve .9T ei'igaies the tace oi' the bearing 98 to pre vent longitudinal movement ot' the shaft 96 and gear 95. A sleeve 101 keyed to the shaft 9T, forms a second journal to support the shaft 86 in the bearing 102 of the gear case casting. Slidable longitudinally of the shaft 96, and connected rotatively therewith by a suitable key 103, is a worin lill adapted when in one position to engage. and when in another position to be disengaged from the Worin Wheel which is fixed to the ratchet sleeve When the worin 10stengages the Worm wheel 1 ()5 power from the motor is transmitted throufrh 'the above described train ot to rotate the sleeve 9T and through it the drum el? at a relatively high speed, 'the paivl GG trailing idly over theteetli of the ratchet y bear A fiance l0() 85 may be moved to engage thepaivlrope 40 when handling the machine.

Wheel 65. Formed on the hub ofthe worm 104 is an annular flange 106 which is engaged by the shifting arm 107 attached -to the vertical shaft 108 j ournaled in suitable bearings 109 of the gear case casting. The shaft 108 is provided with a crank arm'l'lO by which it may be rotated to shift the worm 104 along the shaft 96, and this cranl: arm is connected with a rod 111 which extends to a point convenient to the hand of the operator. A lug 112 attached to the rod 111 is adapted to engage the web 113 ot' the frame cast-ing 1 to prevent accidental shifting of the worm into its engagement with the worm Wheel. When the worm 104 is in engagement with the worm wheel its thrust is in the direction of, and is carried by the face of the bearing 102 of the gear case, and tends to maintain such engagement.

Securely bolted'to the trame -asting 1, is a supporting casting 115 upon .which is mounted the retarding device by which the outer end of the machine is guided when used in the room and pillar system of mining, as will be fully explained hereinafter. From this support casting 115 projects a horizontal stud shaft 116 and upon this is journaled the double flange drum 117 `lupon which theretarding rope 118 may he wound.

' The drum 117 is extended beyond the ange 119 to form a brake drum -120 which is adapted to be engaged by the friction brake band 121 attached to the support casting 115 at 122. An adjusting boa; 123 having a nut 124 aidords convenient means to vary the tension at the brake band 121 to adjustthe resistance to the rotation el the drum 117 when there is a stimo on the rope 118. Suitable guide sheaves 125 and 126 are mounted upon the support casting 115 by which the rope 118 may be lead from the drum 117 toward either side of the machine. Mounted upon suitable spindles attached. to the frame casting 1 are the sheaves 127, 128 and 129 over which the feed rope Av16 may be guided in the ('lesircd direction to feed the machine. A shemle 130 is also provided to be convenientl lorfguiding the feed Attached to the barfl at either side'oi' the machine is a Sheave support 131 upon which .is mounted a sheave. 131% adapted to he used to guide the feed rope from the machine to an anchor adjacent the coal `lace at either I side of the machine as the direction of cntting may require. 4

In the long wall system of mining the working faces are. commonly several hundred feet 'long with an entry at each end, into which the cutting mechanism may project when beginning the cut and across which I the body of the mining machine may project while finishing such cut. When work ing under such conditions as shown in Fig.

with the above arrangement of parts, the reaction ot the cutting bits 11 tends to draw the machine toward the face of the coal, and will hold it to its work without otherguiding devices.

Shouldthere be no free end to the coal face at the point where it is desired to begin the cutting operation the machine may be placed adjacent the coal face with the cutter arm extending rearwardly parallel thereto as illustrated by the dotted lines at 10a in Fig. 17 of the drawings. After starting the cutting mechanism the cutter arm may he rotated to the desired angular position indicated by the full lines at 10 of Fig. 1'?, thus making the sumping or entering cut, ai'ter which the operation will, proceed as above described.

`When opera-ting upon the relatively shor" walls of 'the room and pillar system cimieing, it is necessary' for the cutting niecha nism to worli: close up to the rib at cach side of the room. This 'necessitates a seinewhat different method of handlingthe machine wherein the frame of the machine extends outward into the room atl angles to the coal face. as illust 15 and 16. 'iii/'hen the xn brought, .into the 'cooler7 unica truck, and n 'ed across the floor oi tl mine to the ri 'nt ha: side of the room with the end oi' the cutter arm in the angle termed by the :tace and rib the 'feed rope 115 will be drawn out trom the drum d?, passed around 'the guid'` hea ves 1225 129 and 131, and its end coni cted to the anchor jack 1.233 placed near the race ont' the coal. is the strain on 'the iced rope tends to swing the outer end ot the machine to the righty the retarding rope 11S will be'drawn out from the drinn 117 and connected to the anchor jack ids suitably placed at the left hand side et the machine. 'When now the cutting mechanism is started and the feed rope is wound up the machine will be drawn c ed more longitudinally toward the coal face to `orce i masi,

at 0*@ ndez? :my L

im nng of Shari; wal sy? cross; mamme@ 38 is one. @hesse fue axles 139 and with a main in Him cross memm truck,

l the c 'formed 0I the im [mixing machzlw,

visum! up h@ 'is en mac-nine? Ehe cembnan ies the main frame or to move the machine .bodily relative to the material to be mined, and means exclusive of said feeding mechanism mounted upon said main frame to control its angular relation with the material to be mined during either lateral or longitudinal movement of the cutting mechanism.

dra

3. In a mining machine, the combination with a main frame adapted to rest upon and slide over the ioor of a mine, of a horizon tally extending elongated cutting mechanism pivotally supported on said main frame, means to lock said cutting mechanism inany one of several angular relations with the main frame, feeding mechanism com rising a winding drum and a flexible ft) member adapted to move the cutting mechanism relative to the main frame or to move the machine bodily relative to the material to be mined, and mechanism comprising a winding drum, a draft member windable upon the drum, and means to resist the unvvinding of the `draft member, adapted to preserve a balance of forces whereby the machine will be guided either longitudinally or laterally of the cut-ting mechanism.

4. In a mining machine, the combination of an elongated substantially rectangular main frame adapted to travel with its side parallel and closeto the coal face, a motor on the frame having its armature shaft parallel with th-e longitudinal lines of the frame, a horizontally arranged cutter chain, an arm carrying said chain and mounted at one end of said frame on a vertical axis in the central vertical longitudinal plane of the frame, a worm wheel on said axis for driving said ,cutter-chain, a worm near the side lines of the frame on an axis parallel with the armature shaft and engaging said worm wheel. gears connecting the armature shaft with th-e worm, the cutter arm being adapted to move across the vertical lines of the worm, a fee' mechanism mounted on the opposite end of the frame for moving the frame and the cutter comprising 'a second Worm mounted upon the armature shaft at the other end of the motor, a Worm wheel meshing with the said worm, a drum, a cable on the drum, and power transmitting devices interposed between the Worm wheel and the drum for rotating it to tension the cable.

5. In a mining machine, the combination of a main frame adapted to rest upon and slide over the floor of the mine and constituting the magnetic field frame of an electric motor, an armature in the magnetic field frame havingits longitudinal lines parallel with the longitudinal lines of the main frame, a horizontally arranged cutter chain, an arm carrying Said chains and mounted 'at one end of the frame on a vertical axis 1n the central vertical longitudinal plane of the frame, a worm wheel on said axis for .driving the cutter chain, a worm near the side lines of the frame on an axis parallel with the axis of the armature and engaging with said worm wheel, gears connecting the armature with the worm, the cutter arm belng adapted to move across the vertical lines of the worm, a feed mechanism mounted at the opposite'end of the frame for moving the frame and the cutter comprising-rasecond worm mounted upon the armature shaft at the other end of the mit/iter, a worm wheel meshing with said worm, a tlum, a cable on said drum, and power transmitting devices interposed between the worm wheel and the drum for rotating it to tension the cable.

6. In a mining machine, the combination with a main frameadapted to rest upon and to maintain any preferred angular relationV of the main frame to the material to be mined during lthe cutting operation.

7. In a mining machine, the combination of a main frame adapted vto rest upon and slide over the floor of the mine, of a horizontally extending elongated cutting mechanism pivotally #supported on said main frame, means to rotate said cutting mechanism about its pivot during cutting opera# in any one of several angular positions relative to the main frame, and feeding and guiding mechanism comprising means to more the machine bodily relative'to the coal face, and means independent of said moving means to vbalance the strains produced thereby.

8. In a mining machine of the class'described, thel combination of the main frame,

.the cutter bar mounted at one end `of the frame and adapted to swing from a working position where it projects laterally in one direction from lthe frame to another position where it tprojects oppositely from the other` side of the frame, the cutting device carried by the said arm, the driver for the cutter device, a motor shaft positioned in the transverse planes of the central part of the frame with its longitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal lines of the frame and a power transmitting shaft having a horizontal axis parallel to that of said motorv shaft and operatively connected to said motor shaft and to said cutter driver.

tion, means to lock said cutting mechanism.

9. In a. mining machine of the class del meme-i7 ed to gravel with its side parallel and close to the coal face, a Inotoi` on the frame having its armature shaft parallel with the longitudinal lines of the frame., a, horizontally arranged cutter chain, an arm carrying said chain and pivotally mounted at one end of said frame on a vertical axis in the central vertical longitudinal plane of the frame, a worm Wheel on said axis for driving said cutter chain, a Worm actuated by said motor to drive said Worm Wheel, *feed mechanism mounted on the opposite end of the frame, for moving the frame end cuter, comprisingl a drum, a cable Windable on the drum, a Worin wheel connectible with the drum, and e Worm actuated by said motel" to drive the last said Worm wheel to Wind the cable 0n the drum.

n testimony whereof I nfiix my signetul'e, in the presence of two Witnesses.

EELS D. LEVEN. Witnesses:

HARRY C DEAN, DUDLEY T. Fishman. 

